Become An Instructor
GAIA welcomes anyone who wishes to begin the process of becoming a game angling/fly fishing instructor/coach by offering a proven and effective pathway to achieve your goals.
There are three levels of awards that can be taken in your own time. However, there is support available from GAIA members who are familiar with the syllabi.
- The Game Angling Instructors Certificate (GAIC) award.
- The Advanced Professional Game Angling Instructors (APGAI) award.
- The Accredited Mentors and Assessors Award.
The GAIC and APGAI awards are in three game angling disciplines: Single Handed Rod, Double Handed Rod and Fly Dressing. A candidate can choose which discipline they wish to be assessed for. Although a candidate may take all three it is usual to take one at a time. Each GAIC discipline must be successfully completed before taking the equivalent APGAI award.
Membership Benefits
The GAIC award is the entry level for Membership of GAIA. The benefits of membership are;
- Insurance – a specific sports coaching third party insurance.
- Access to the website and its associated forum.
- Continual Personal & Professional (CPPD) events.
- A professional support structure both social and technical.
- An international recognition of the GAIA awards.
- Coach membership to the Salmon & Trout Association – this is not mandatory and you may choose not to subscribe and obtain a reduced GAIA membership fee.
- Discount schemes from game-angling manufacturers.
Your First Steps
- Register with GAIA as an Associate Member. This gives you access to the website and CPPD events. At this point you are not covered by the insurance policy unless working with a GAIA Instructor.
- On receipt of your application we will send you the GAIC portfolio. This contains an eight page quiz, which is not only enjoyable to complete but it tests your level of game angling knowledge and covers the skills that can be acquired through GAIA. This will also stimulate your desire to research the questions that you were unable to answer. There is also a study resource and a number of documents that you will use as you make progress through the various levels of achievement. We also suggest that you find a qualified GAIA member for mentoring you through the assessment process but you will have to negotiate a cost for this service with your selected mentor. GAIA also runs a series of regional workshops which will also help to develop the skills that you need.
- To enhance and further your education as an associate member, GAIA runs an Associate Members' Programme, which includes days/weekends devoted to study groups, when the GAIC portfolio will be delivered. This will give you the opportunity to fully understand and complete the portfolio. These study groups will also include time set aside for casting and further work on the technical assessment, with qualified mentors/instructors already on hand to help. There is the added benefit that you will be working alongside other associate members, which will inevitably make it a fun event, whilst creating a sense of community.The thrust of this programme is to work alongside you and make sure that you are looked after from the moment you join GAIA all the way through to your qualification. These specific Associate Members' meetings will take place throughout the UK and Ireland and you will be kept informed of them to make sure you can attend a meeting that is near to you.
- The programme is completed by a technical assessment of your casting skill.
- You are then registered as a Member with all the benefits.
To apply to GAIA to become an Instructor
please contact us by clicking here.
The Next Steps
- You will be encouraged to complete the Mentor & Assessors award.
- On completion of this award you will be placed on the register for Accredited Mentors and Assessors – any candidates applying for the GAIC programme in your locality will be given your name as a contact for mentoring.
- You can apply to be part of the GAIA Assessment Team for the technical casting assessments.
- You will be encouraged to complete the APGAI Award.